Statutory holidays and when things close

Canada celebrates statutory holidays—or 'stat holidays'—on dates set by the federal government and individual provinces. However, not every province observes the same holidays. This means the days you have off, when stores and services close, and whether you're entitled to holiday pay all depend on which province or territory you live and work in. Understanding your local holiday calendar helps you plan work, travel, and time with family.

National and Federal Holidays Everyone Gets

A few holidays are observed nationwide across all provinces and territories. These are the safest days to count on for time off and closures:

• New Year's Day (January 1)
• Good Friday (the Friday before Easter—changes annually)
• Canada Day (July 1)
• Labour Day (first Monday in September)
• Christmas Day (December 25)

Banks, government offices, and federal services close on all five of these days. Most other businesses close as well, though some—particularly retail and essential services—may remain open with limited hours.

Provincial Holidays Vary Widely

Each province and territory can add its own statutory holidays beyond the national five. This is where newcomers often encounter surprises.

Family Day—If You Live in the Right Province

Family Day is celebrated on the third Monday in February in five provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick. However, it is not a federal holiday, and Quebec does not observe it at all. If you live in Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, or Prince Edward Island, your province marks the same date with a different name instead—such as Louis Riel Day in Manitoba or Islander Day in Prince Edward Island. If you work for a federal employer in a province where Family Day is not statutory, you will work that day.

Thanksgiving in October, Not November

A common surprise for newcomers from the United States or other countries: Canada celebrates Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October, not in late November. In 2026, that falls on October 12. Many provinces observe it as a statutory holiday, though it is not a nationwide federal requirement. Banks and government offices typically close; some retail may stay open.

Other Notable Provincial Holidays

Additional holidays vary by province. For example:

• Victoria Day (third Monday in May) — observed in most provinces, called National Patriot's Day in Quebec
• BC Day (first Monday in August) — British Columbia only
• Heritage Day or Civic Holiday (first Monday in August) — observed with different names in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and other provinces
• Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (June 24) — statutory in Quebec; celebrates Québécois culture
• Boxing Day (December 26) — statutory in Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, and for federally regulated employees, but not in British Columbia

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30)

This federal holiday, added in 2021, recognizes the history and ongoing impacts of residential schools on Indigenous peoples. It is a statutory holiday for federally regulated employers and in British Columbia, but not all provinces have made it mandatory for private employers. Check your province's rules if you work in the private sector.

What Actually Closes on Statutory Holidays

Knowing which day is a holiday doesn't mean everything shuts down. Here's what you can expect:

Government and Banks

Federal and provincial government offices, as well as all banks, close on every statutory holiday. Service Canada offices, where you handle Social Insurance Number (SIN) matters or Canada Pension Plan questions, are also closed. Provincial health insurance offices (such as OHIP in Ontario, MSP in British Columbia, or RAMQ in Quebec) follow provincial holiday schedules.

Retail and Supermarkets

Most retail stores close on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. On other statutory holidays, hours are typically reduced, and some stores may close. Major supermarkets often stay open with shortened hours. It is wise to shop the day before if you need supplies on a stat holiday.

Schools and Childcare

Schools and public childcare facilities are closed on all statutory holidays. Private childcare may vary; confirm with your provider. Some daycares offer holiday coverage for an extra fee.

Public Transit and Hospitals

Public transit typically runs on a reduced holiday schedule. Hospitals and emergency services always operate normally. Clinics and dental offices are closed unless specifically noted as open.

Holiday Pay: When and How Much

If you work in Canada, you are entitled to statutory holiday pay if you meet eligibility requirements. However, the rules differ significantly by province.

Who Qualifies?

Eligibility depends on how long you have worked for your employer and, in some provinces, whether you worked immediately before and after the holiday. Common requirements include:

• British Columbia: You must have worked for at least 30 calendar days and earned wages on at least 15 of those 30 days before the holiday
• Ontario: You qualify if you worked your entire regularly scheduled shift before and after the holiday (the 'Last and First Rule')
• Saskatchewan: All employees working in the province are entitled to holiday pay; there is no minimum employment period required
• Alberta: You must have been employed for at least 30 workdays in the 12 months before the holiday

If you do not yet meet the eligibility requirement, check with your employer or provincial employment standards office. Some provinces are more generous than others.

How Is Holiday Pay Calculated?

If you do not work on a statutory holiday, you receive a day's pay. The amount is usually calculated as an average of your wages over a reference period—typically the four weeks or 30 calendar days before the holiday. The exact formula varies by province. For example, in British Columbia, holiday pay equals your total wages earned in the 30 calendar days before the holiday, divided by the number of days you worked during that period.

What If You Work on a Holiday?

Many employees in essential services (healthcare, retail, hospitality, security) must work on statutory holidays. In such cases, you typically receive:

• Premium pay (often 1.5 times or double your regular wage) for hours worked, or
• A substitute day off at regular pay, taken within a set period (usually within three weeks of the holiday), or
• A combination of both, depending on provincial rules

Always confirm your employer's policy and check your province's employment standards legislation for exact premium pay rates.

Federal vs. Provincial Rules

Most Canadian workers fall under provincial employment standards. However, if you work for a federally regulated employer—such as a bank, airline, interprovincial trucking company, or telecommunications firm—you follow federal statutory holiday rules instead. Federal employees are entitled to 10 statutory holidays per year, including Boxing Day and all major national holidays.

If you are unsure whether your employer is federally or provincially regulated, ask your human resources department. This distinction affects which holidays you receive and how holiday pay is calculated.

Holiday Planning Tips

Understanding Canada's patchwork of statutory holidays takes time, especially for newcomers. The key takeaway is simple: your location matters. Check your specific province's rules, confirm eligibility with your employer, and plan ahead for major closures. Within a year of living in Canada, you will have a clear sense of when your province celebrates and what to expect on those days.